The question frequently arises where is the dividing line between the various
districts of Boston. The districts, which are the various annexations at
different times, have no official recognition, but nine are generally recognized
by the standard of the annexations, namely: Boston Proper, Roxbury, West
Roxbury, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Charlestown, Brighton, South Boston, and East
Boston. The Back Bay is considered as part of Boston Proper, though parts were
formerly within the limits of Roxbury and Brookline. And the Cottage Farm
district, taken from Brookline in 1874, after the annexation of Brighton, is
generally considered part of the Brighton district. Charlestown and East Boston
are separated from each other, by water. Likewise, Fort Point Channel and South
Bay separate Boston Proper from South Boston. Between South Boston and
Dorchester: An east-and-west line a bit south of Old Harbor Village. Between
Boston Proper and Brighton (1870 limits); Ashby Street. Between Roxbury and
West Roxbury: Seaver Street (west of Blue Hill Avenue), then a line running
across from Eggleston Square through Hyde Square and to near Leverett Pond.
Hyde Park’s northerly limits are two straight lines. On the northeast, the line
is a bit north of Mattakeeset Street and a bit south of Greenfield Road and
Rector Road. On the northwest, the line is a continuation of the part of the
Dedham line that is crossed by Grove Street. Between West Roxbury and
Dorchester: Blue Hill Avenue, Harvard Street and Wood Avenue. Between Roxbury
and Dorchester: Blue Hill Avenue from Seaver Street to Grove Hall, then eastward
to a line parallel to Blue Hill Avenue, then following Dacia Street and
Glenbrook Street, then zig-zagging over to the railroad near Norfolk Avenue,
then by the railroad tracks. Between Boston Proper and Roxbury, the old line
runs through Roxbury Canal and continues to Southampton Street, then by
Southampton and Northampton Streets, then east of Harrison Avenue, and north of
Hunneman Street, then between Arnold and Ball Streets, between Hammond and
Kendall Streets. Roxbury used to take in a good piece of the Back Bay
(including Massachusetts Station); but northwest of Columbus Avenue, the postal
division is less misleading, being: across to Museum Square, then Huntington
Avenue, Francis Street and Brookline Avenue.